Carlos Martins

Carlos Martins

• Emerged through the youth ranks at Sporting Clube de Portugal but struggled to impose himself and was farmed out to SC Campomaiorense and home-town club A. Académica de Coimbra before finally making the grade with the Lions.

• Battled with injuries but managed 76 Liga games, scoring nine goals, before leaving Sporting in 2007, by which time he was a Portuguese international, having made his debut against Denmark on 1 September 2006.

• Took his career to a new level during the 2007/08 season with Spain's RC Recreativo de Huelva, becoming their midfield driving force and scoring six goals in 32 Liga appearances to help the Andalusians avoid relegation.

• Returned to Lisbon to join Benfica in July 2008; won the Portuguese League Cup in first season, scoring the decisive spot kick in the final shoot-out against Sporting.

• Scored again in the 2010 League Cup final (3-0 against FC Porto) and helped the Eagles to the Liga title; claimed a regular spot in the Portuguese national team in 2010/11 under former Sporting boss Paulo Bento, scoring the first goal in a remarkable 4-0 win against world champions Spain in a friendly.

• Spent the 2011/12 season on loan at Spanish Liga club Granada CF, but returned to Benfica in 2012/13, playing in four of their nine UEFA Europa League games as the club made the final.

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